Swivel for dance partners



Jan. 15, 1963 o. H. BYRD, SR 3,073,594

SWIVEL FOR DANCE PARTNERS Filed Jan. 16, 1961 FIG- 2 DEE Ex/@553.

United States Patent ice 3,073,594 SWIVEL FOR DANCE PARTNERS Dee H.Byrd, Sr., 19 E. Main, Walla Walla, Wash. Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. N 0.82,836 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) The present invention may be classifiedbroadly among sporting devices and relates particularly to a swivel fordance partners.

While dancing, where-in there are partners, one executes dance stepswhich require one partner to rotate with respect to the other partner.For example, in Western dancing there are predominantly two types ofdances; commonly termed the square dance and the round or pattern dance.In the round or pattern dance, frequently the lady will spin whilelightly holding a finger of her dance partner to maintain a relativeorientation with her dance partner. This dance step is commonly termed atwirl, where the leading partner remains at a relatively constantlocation and the other partner spins or revolves under the hand of theleading partner.

There is also a dance step commonly termed a roll or roll across,wherein one partner transfers from one side to the other of his partnerand makes a complete turn or revolution during this transfer.

It is customary for one partner to lightly hold a finger of the otherpartner while these spins, turns and/or revolutions are being completed,while the finger is permitted to pivot in the hand of the other partner.

While performing these dance steps and similar steps in other dances andacrobatic performances, the steadying influence of the leading partneris reduced substantially at the very time when the spinning or twirlingpartners equilibrium is most susceptible momentarily to vertigo.

The present invention lies in the provision of a swivel for dancepartners which is adapted to have its opposed ends selectively fixedwith respect to a hand of each dance partner whereby the steadyinginfluence of one partner to another may be maintained and yet theability to twirl or roll will not be impaired but Will be enhancedbecause of the aforesaid steadying influence which provides means formaintaining relative orientation with ones partner.

This and other important objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent during the course of the following description whenconsidered in conjunction with the exemplifying drawings wherein I havedisclosed a preferred embodiment and a modified species of the presentinvention.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate similarparts:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my improved swivel and showing thehands of dance partners in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a vie-w in elevation having parts broken away forconvenience of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the swivel and showing apart in section; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified species of the swivel.

Having reference now more particularly to the drawing, the numeralindicates in its entirety the improved swival constituting the subjectmatter of this present invent which, it will be seen, has a pair ofheads 12 and 14 having means 16 interconnecting the heads in spacedrelationship with the configuration of a sleeve or ring 18 having acentral finger-receiving aperture 20 and a radially disposed boss 22.The ring preferably is to encircle the middle or third finger of theleading partners hand M. A socket 24 is formed in the boss 22 of thehead 12 and has a restricted throat 26 by means of which a spheralenlargement 28 is confined for pivotal movements relative to the head12. The socket 24 is open at both ends radially through the ring thusproviding for entrance of the spheral enlargement 28 into the socket 24from the central opening 20 and also admits from the opposite side aninflexible rod 30 which is releasably secured as by a pin 32 to thespheral enlargement 28.

At its opposed end the rod 30 is provided with a second spheralenlargement 34 which is confined in a socket 36 for pivotal movementsand permits limited angular displacement of the rod 30 with respect tothe head 14 which has the configuration of a lenticular disc of a sizeadapted to be grasped in the hand F of a following dance partner whilethe rod 30 extends therefrom between the fingers.

The socket 36 of the head 14 extends axially through the head 14 and isprovided with a constriction at 38 which prevents passage of the spheralenlargement 34 from the socket 36.

Opposed to the rod 30 the socket 36 is provided with an internallythreaded bore 40 in which a retainer plug 42 is threadedly engaged. Theplug 42 is provided with a kerf to receive the bit of a screw driver forapplying or removing said plug 42, and has a concave recess 44 fittingabout a segment of the spheral enlargement 34 to retain it therein.

The rod 30 is provided with an annular concave-com vex shield 46 whichis secured thereto as for example, by welding 48, and covers the boss 22of the head 12 and a portion of the ring 18 to preclude contact with thering by the hand F of a partner grasping the head 14.

In FIGURE 4 I have shown a modified structure wherein the head 12a isprovided with plural rings 18' and the rod 30 is swivel mounted in afillet 50 formed tangentially with respect to the adjacent rings.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States the following:

1. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a pair of heads, each adapted to beselectively fixed with respect to a hand of each dance partner, at leastone said head being a lenticular disc of a size adapted to be grasped byone dance partner and means interconnecting said heads in spacedrelationship for relative swivel movements of said heads.

2. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a ring adapted to receive a fingerof one dance partner, and constituting a first head; a second headadapted to be grasped by a second dance partner; and meansinterconnecting said heads in spaced relationship for relative swivelmovements of said heads.

3. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a head adapted .to be releasablyfixed upon the hand of one dance partner; a lenticular disc of a sizeadapted to be grasped by a second dance partner, and constituting asecond head; and means interconnecting said heads in spaced relationshipfor relative swivel movements of said heads.

4. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a ring for receiving at least onefinger of one dance partner, and constituting a head, a lenticulardisc-shape head of a size for being grasped by a second dance partner;and an inflexible rod of predetermined length and having spheralenlargements on the ends thereof; and said heads each having a socket inwhich one said spheral enlargement is confined for pivotal movements andlimited angular displacement of said rod with respect to each head.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein a concave-convex annularshield is concentrically disposed on said rod and covers a portion ofsaid ring, whereby to prevent the hand of the dance partner who isgrasping said disc from contacting said ring.

6. A swivel for dancers, comprising: a pair of heads each adapted to beselectively fixed with respect to a hand of each dance partner; aninflexible rod of predetermined 3 length and having spheral enlargementson the ends thereof; said heads each having a socket in which one saidspheral enlargement is confined for pivotal movements and limitedangular displacement of said rod with respect to each head and a shieldconcentrically disposed on said rod and covering a portion of one headfor protecting the hand of one partner from contacting the opposed saidhead.

References Cited in the file of this patent

1. A SWIVEL FOR DANCERS, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF HEADS, EACH ADAPTED TO BESELECTIVELY FIXED WITH RESPECT TO A HAND OF EACH DANCE PARTNER, AT LEASTONE SAID HEAD BEING A LENTICULAR DISC OF A SIZE ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED BYONE DANCE PARTNER AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID HEADS IN SPACEDRELATIONSHIP FOR RELATIVE SWIVEL MOVEMENTS OF SAID HEADS.